Jung Jin-seok Sentenced to 6 Months in Prison for 'Roh Moo-hyun Defamation'... Avoids Immediate Imprisonment

Prison Sentence Heavier Than Prosecutor's Proposed Fine
Possible Loss of Assembly Seat if First Trial Verdict Confirmed

Jeong Jin-seok, a member of the People Power Party who was prosecuted for defaming the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, was sentenced to imprisonment in the first trial.

On the 10th, Judge Park Byung-gon of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 5 sentenced Jeong, who was charged with defamation of a deceased person and defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act, to six months in prison, which is a heavier sentence than the prosecution's demand of a 5 million won fine. However, he was not detained in court.

Jin Jeong-seok, member of the People Power Party. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The court stated the reason for the sentence, saying, "The content of the defendant's writing constitutes a malicious or very reckless attack, and considering the context and circumstances, it cannot be protected under the name of freedom of expression."

In September 2017, Jeong posted on his Facebook, "After the wife of former President Roh, Kwon Yang-sook, and their son were investigated by the prosecution on suspicion of receiving millions of dollars in bribes from Park Yeon-cha, Kwon ran away after a marital quarrel, and that night, President Roh, left alone, committed suicide," which led to a lawsuit from the bereaved family.

If this sentence is finalized, Jeong will lose his position as a member of the National Assembly. The National Assembly Act and the Public Official Election Act stipulate that a member of the National Assembly must retire if sentenced to imprisonment or higher.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.